Fight, Week 2: A Church in the Fight

Message Title:  “A Church in The Fight” To lead people into a NEW LIFE of Freedom in Jesus  “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)  “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) …I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 (KJV) The Church is the only organization that exists for it’s non-members. A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.  They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?  But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) A Church in the FIGHT… Is focused on getting people to JESUS. We keep Jesus the main thing. …When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. Corinthians 2:1-2 (NIV) For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NIV) A Church in the FIGHT… is committed to removing the OBSTACLES. And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19 (NLT) Too many people aren’t being reached, because too many Christians are sacrificing their potential effectiveness on the altar of tradition. A Church in the FIGHT… moves with URGENCY. Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.  This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! Luke 15:1-7 (NLT) So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:1-7 (NLT) “And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’” Luke 15:1-7 (NLT) “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:1-7 (NLT) You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) “You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden God has put on your heart.” – Andy Stanley